Doheny chides Owens for not hearing 'You didn't build that'

Matt Doheny hit Rep. Bill Owens in a statement today for saying that he hadn't heard President Obama's "you didn't build that" remarks. "People are telling me how upset they are by the president’s comments," Mr. Doheny, a Republican of Watertown, said in a release. "I agree with them. I could not disagree more what he said. Let me be clear: Government’s role in helping create the infrastructure needed for growth was important. But it does not justify taking more tax revenue from job creators, especially since our leaders in Washington have done little to curb our out-of-control spending."President Obama was discussing the role of government in helping businesses — without the roads and bridges that the government builds, those businesses wouldn't survive. But Mr. Obama's point seemed to diminish the role of the individual at the expense of the role of the government in an imbalanced way. It's pretty clear that Mr. Obama was not saying "You didn't build your own business." But the more full context of his quote was still worthy of a few raised eyebrows. Those of Mr. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, did not raise at all, he said, because he hadn't heard what the president said.Mr. Owens will face Mr. Doheny on Nov. 6.

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